Vacations and ADHD

It's the time of year when most families plan their vacations.  If you have a member (or members) of the family with ADHD it's good to keep in mind that routines and plans are still necessary.  For example, if a spouse has ADHD they will often wait until the last minute to get packed and inevitably forget something essential.  The spouse or parent without ADHD can feel like they have to make all the arrangements to be away, pack the car, and make sure everyone else is packed.  Teenagers can become difficult because their normal routine is being disrupted, and their parents are getting after them.  Without thinking ahead this is a recipe for a bad and stressful start to what should be an enjoyable time of renewal.  Here are some ideas and tips to help make vacation a little more enjoyable.

1. When getting ready to go away make a list of all the thing that will need to be taken care of.  Then divide the list accordingly.  Keep in mind that asking your spouse with ADHD to be responsible for things like stopping the paper, forwarding mail, or arranging for cat sitting may not be the best idea. Likewise, expecting your teenager to enthusiastically mow the lawn just prior to departure may also be unrealistic.  Remember to pick tasks that you are good at and have a better than even chance of completing.

2. Make a plan and stick to it.  If you want to leave at 8 a.m. make sure everyone knows well in advance that 8 a.m. will be the departure time, and then work backwards to determine when bags will need to be packed, when people will need to be awake, etc.

3. Make a list of everything you need and want to bring for the trip, and then use it when your packing.

4. Make sure you will have an adequate supply of your medications for the duration of your trip.

5. While the GPS has eliminated many of the hassles of traveling in unfamiliar areas, it's always a good idea to have a back up in the form of an old fashioned map.

6. Even though you're on vacation it's good to have some kind of structure to the day.  Building the day around a particular activity or event will allow you to have fun without bickering over when something is going to happen during any given day.

7. Finally remember that vacations are about rest and renewal.  If you find that going away is almost as stressful as being home and going to work or school some soul searching is in order.  It could be that your idea of what a vacation is needs to change.

Nothing is ever perfect, but a little planning, structure, and discussion will go a long way towards making your family's summer vacation a little more enjoyable.